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Friday, May 29, 2009

Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programmes coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this week, beginning on Saturday.SATURDAY 30 May*** The State We're In ***

ALONGSIDE KEN IN PRISON: Jonathan talks about the killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa with Ledum Mitee, an Ogoni rights activist in Port Harcourt Nigeria. Ledum explains his memories of Ken's last days, and the personal cost he has paid in his campaign for environmental protection and justice.

ELLEN'S STORY: Ellen Szita was illiterate till she was 45 years old. Now, she's the author of a book and a campaigner for adult literacy - she talks to Jonathan Groubert about how she made that journey.

KURDISH WASH AND READ PROGRAMME: Correspondent Dorian Jones reports on a new initiative to help disadvantaged Kurdish refugees in Turkey - the Kelebek initiative allows women to bring their household washing into the centre and while the machines are running, they can attend literacy and language classes.

THE RIGHT TO READ IN ENGLISH: Shabnam Ramaswamy believes that the English language marks the dividing line between rich and poor in India. She talks to producer Dheera Sujan about the lessons learned from her illiterate grandmother, and the work she's doing now to bring her grandmother's dream to hundreds of children in a remote Indian village.

TIANANMEN SQUARE MEMORIES: Ying Chang was part of the seven-week protest which ended with the brutal 4 June massacre. She tells Jonathan what she remembers most, and what she wasn't allowed to see and talk about back then.

ERASING HISTORY: Karen Meirik reports from Beijing on how house demolitions there aren't just symptoms of an overheated economy or corruption, but the politically-motivated targets of a government punishing Beijing residents for their support of the 1989 protest.

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):0400 North America1000 Africa and Asia1200 North America1300 Europe1500 Europe2200 Asia, North America, Safm2300 Europe

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):0400 North America1000 Africa and Asia1200 North America1300 Europe2300 Europe

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):0400 North America1000 Africa and Asia1200 North America1300 Europe2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

ALONGSIDE KEN IN PRISON: Jonathan talks about the killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa with Ledum Mitee, an Ogoni rights activist in Port Harcourt Nigeria. Ledum explains his memories of Ken's last days, and the personal cost he has paid in his campaign for environmental protection and justice.

ELLEN'S STORY: Ellen Szita was illiterate till she was 45 years old. Now, she's the author of a book and a campaigner for adult literacy - she talks to Jonathan Groubert about how she made that journey.

KURDISH WASH AND READ PROGRAMME: Correspondent Dorian Jones reports on a new initiative to help disadvantaged Kurdish refugees in Turkey - the Kelebek initiative allows women to bring their household washing into the centre and while the machines are running, they can attend literacy and language classes.

THE RIGHT TO READ IN ENGLISH: Shabnam Ramaswamy believes that the English language marks the dividing line betwen rich and poor in India. She talks to producer Dheera Sujan about the lessons learned from her illiterate grandmother, and the work she's doing now to bring her grandmother's dream to hundreds of children in a remote Indian village.

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):0400 North America1000 Africa and Asia1200 North America1300 Europe2300 Europe

*** Earthbeat (repeat from Thursday) ***

The tale of two cities with very different attitudes to traffic noise. Amsterdam, where the bicycle is king of the road, has dealt with noise by making sure that parking a car in the centre is so expensive you'd need to sell your car to do it.

Meanwhile in Mumbai, "I honk therefore I am" seems to be the drivers mantra. We hear about a campaign to change this. Plus, how to turn sunlight into fuel, and how to get gold from toxic sludge.

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):0400 North America1000 Africa and Asia1200 North America1300 Europe2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Bridges with Africa (repeat from Friday) ***

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):0400 North America1000 Africa and Asia1200 North America1300 Europe2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Earthbeat (primary programme) ***

The most edible of Dutch delicacies, the eel, is under threat. This mysterious fish travels thousands of miles to spawn in the Sargasso sea but lives most of its life in freshwater rivers and lakes in Europe. Stocks are declining at an alarming rate, and are 100th of what they were 20 years ago. So who's to blame and what's being done about it?

We follow fishermen as they release eels in an effort to restock. Conservation groups think that this isn't enough and the only way to keep this species from extinction is to keep it off the supermarket shelves.

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):0400 North America1000 Africa and Asia1200 North America1300 Europe2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Bridges with Africa (primary programme) ***

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

An international panel of experts led by NOAA and sponsored by NASA has released a new prediction for the next solar cycle. Solar Cycle 24 will peak, they say, in May 2013 with a below-average number of sunspots.

"If our prediction is correct, Solar Cycle 24 will have a peak sunspot number of 90, the lowest of any cycle since 1928 when Solar Cycle 16 peaked at 78," says panel chairman Doug Biesecker of the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.

It is tempting to describe such a cycle as "weak" or "mild," but that could give the wrong impression.

"Even a below-average cycle is capable of producing severe space weather," points out Biesecker. "The great geomagnetic storm of 1859, for instance, occurred during a solar cycle of about the same size we’re predicting for 2013."

The 1859 storm--known as the "Carrington Event" after astronomer Richard Carrington who witnessed the instigating solar flare--electrified transmission cables, set fires in telegraph offices, and produced Northern Lights so bright that people could read newspapers by their red and green glow. A recent report by the National Academy of Sciences found that if a similar storm occurred today, it could cause $1 to 2 trillion in damages to society's high-tech infrastructure and require four to ten years for complete recovery. For comparison, Hurricane Katrina caused "only" $80 to 125 billion in damage.

Above: This plot of sunspot numbers shows the measured peak of the last solar cycle in blue and the predicted peak of the next solar cycle in red. Credit: NOAA/Space Weather Prediction Center.

The latest forecast revises an earlier prediction issued in 2007. At that time, a sharply divided panel believed solar minimum would come in March 2008 followed by either a strong solar maximum in 2011 or a weak solar maximum in 2012. Competing models gave different answers, and researchers were eager for the sun to reveal which was correct.

"It turns out that none of our models were totally correct," says Dean Pesnell of the Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA's lead representative on the panel. "The sun is behaving in an unexpected and very interesting way."

Researchers have known about the solar cycle since the mid-1800s. Graphs of sunspot numbers resemble a roller coaster, going up and down with an approximately 11-year period. At first glance, it looks like a regular pattern, but predicting the peaks and valleys has proven troublesome. Cycles vary in length from about 9 to 14 years. Some peaks are high, others low. The valleys are usually brief, lasting only a couple of years, but sometimes they stretch out much longer. In the 17th century the sun plunged into a 70-year period of spotlessness known as the Maunder Minimum that still baffles scientists.

Above: Yearly-averaged sunspot numbers from 1610 to 2008. Researchers believe upcoming Solar Cycle 24 will be similar to the cycle that peaked in 1928, marked by a red arrow. Credit: NASA/MSFC

Right now, the solar cycle is in a valley--the deepest of the past century. In 2008 and 2009, the sun set Space Age records for low sunspot counts, weak solar wind, and low solar irradiance. The sun has gone more than two years without a significant solar flare.

"In our professional careers, we've never seen anything quite like it," says Pesnell. "Solar minimum has lasted far beyond the date we predicted in 2007."

In recent months, however, the sun has begun to show timorous signs of life. Small sunspots and "proto-sunspots" are popping up with increasing frequency. Enormous currents of plasma on the sun’s surface ("zonal flows") are gaining strength and slowly drifting toward the sun’s equator. Radio astronomers have detected a tiny but significant uptick in solar radio emissions. All these things are precursors of an awakening Solar Cycle 24 and form the basis for the panel's new, almost unanimous forecast.

According to the forecast, the sun should remain generally calm for at least another year. From a research point of view, that's good news because solar minimum has proven to be more interesting than anyone imagined. Low solar activity has a profound effect on Earth’s atmosphere, allowing it to cool and contract. Space junk accumulates in Earth orbit because there is less aerodynamic drag. The becalmed solar wind whips up fewer magnetic storms around Earth's poles. Cosmic rays that are normally pushed back by solar wind instead intrude on the near-Earth environment. There are other side-effects, too, that can be studied only so long as the sun remains quiet.

Meanwhile, the sun pays little heed to human committees. There could be more surprises, panelists acknowledge, and more revisions to the forecast.

"Go ahead and mark your calendar for May 2013," says Pesnell. "But use a pencil."

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts:Issued: 2009 May 26 1821 UTC# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html# Weekly Highlights and ForecastsHighlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 18 - 24 May 2009Solar activity was very low. No flares were observed. New-cycle polarity Region 1017 (N18, L=184, class/area Bxo/020 on 14 May) was numbered on 13 May. It was inactive and simply-structured during the period and rotated off the disk on 24 May as spotless plage. New-cycle polarity Region 1018 (S33, L= 046, class/area, Bxo/030 on 23 May) was numbered on 23 May. The region decayed as spotless plage on 24 May. The region was inactive during its short lifespan.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels during the period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels at all latitudes during most of the period. However, activity briefly increased to active levels at high latitudes on 22 May. ACE observations indicated the active period (22/1500 - 22/1800 UTC) was due to solar wind changes associated with a period of sustained southward IMF Bz (minimum - 4 nT) and a modest increase in velocities (approximately 370 km/sec).

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity27 May - 22 June 2009

Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal flux levels.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels through 02 June. Activity is expected to increase to mostly unsettled levels during 03 - 05 June with a chance for active levels at high latitudes on 04 June due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Mostly quiet conditions are expected during 06 - 09 June. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels on 10 - 11 June due to a recurrent coronal hole wind stream. Mostly quiet conditions are expected during 12 -22 June.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Today the BBC Archive is launching a new online collection celebrating the 150th anniversary of Big Ben, as part of its plans to open up parts of its extensive archives dating back to 1922. The new collection will enable the public to take advantage of the broadcaster’s unique access and ability to witness defining moments in history.Sunday 31 May marks Big Ben’s official anniversary, and the BBC Archive has captured and preserved some of the fascinating events around Big Ben in its various broadcasts – from how the chimes were first recorded on New Year’s Eve in 1923, to Peter Duncan’s both daring and brave scaling of the clock face in Blue Peter in 1980, and BBC television’s Jim’ll Fix It venturing inside the tower in 1988.The Big Ben collection also showcases some of the intriguing moments in the clock’s history, such as the times it fell silent and did not “bong” owing to repairs brought on by cold weather and redecoration.The image gallery includes photographs of Richard Dimbleby reporting inside the clock face of Big Ben in 1949, first accredited female war correspondent Audrey Russell reporting from Westminster in 1954, and Daleks from Doctor Who crossing Westminster Bridge in 1964.This collection is the latest in a series to be released online which explore the cultural and political developments that shaped the 20th century. The new collection goes live today (28 May 2009) and you can view the collection by going to www. bbc.co.uk/archive/bigben .(Source: BBC Press Office/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)(photo/flickr)

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Threats of War as North Korea Warns of Strike Against South Korea and U.S.

North Korea launches threats againist world powers as it reportedly test-fires third missile in two days.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched a tirade Wednesday against world powers threatening to punish it for conducting its second nuclear test, saying it is not afraid of sanctions and calling South Korea's decision to join an operation to prevent the spread of weapons a declaration of war.

North Korea Threatens Armed Strike, End to ArmisticeMay 27 (Bloomberg) -- North Korea threatened a military response to South Korean participation in a U.S.-led program to seize weapons of mass destruction, and said it will no longer abide by the 1952 armistice that ended the Korean War.Additional story from Bloomberg.Com http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=awBTCPe7S2gw&refer=worldwide

North Korea launches additional missile in East SeaSEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- North Korea launched an additional short-range missile from its east coast Tuesday night, an official at the South Korean presidential office said Wednesday.

"The North appears to have launched a ground-to-ship missile into the East Sea shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday," the official said, asking not to be identified. Pyongyang had launched two short-range missiles from its east coast earlier Tuesday, following its supposed nuclear test the day before.

Officials here believe the missile launches are partly aimed at preventing South Korean and U.S. reconnaissance planes from nearing the communist state to verify its claimed nuclear test.Additional story from YONHAPNEWS Agency http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/05/27/69/0301000000AEN20090527001300315F.HTMLNorth Korea on shortwave radioVoice of Korea, Pyongyang, DPR North Korea began it’s A09 Summer Schedule on Sunday, 29 March 2009, 07:00 UTC. Announcements so far suggest that it will be exactly the same schedule as last year's. This year, however, will be the first time ever to completely synchronise the frequency change date with the international community. Up to now they usually changed frequencies twice a year on the first Mondays of May and November. Last year they just missed out one day when they effected the changes on Monday, October 27

North Korea, Voice of Korea - A09 English serviceEffective to 27 October 2009

"When I was taking part in the student movement of the 1980s, the most encouraging thing was broadcasts towards South Korea from North Korea. We used to use the broadcast contents for our educational and propaganda materials. Of course, due to that activism, which was a National Security Law violation, I went to prison in the early 1990s". Lee Kwang Baik, the President of Radio Free Chosun (RFC), a lesser-known SW radio broadcast NGO in South Korea, explained his experience of executing a 180-degree turn from pro-North Korea social activist into North Korean democratization activist to Daily NK on Monday. He confessed, "In the mid-1990s, for the first time, I figured out that North Korea was not an ideal society, but a dictatorship in which the regime abused people’s human rights in the extreme just to maintain the system". In light of which, Lee introduced RFC’s goal, "North Korea should develop its economy through democratization and opening and reform. RFC is a broadcasting company to help North Korean people achieve this and to speak as a proxy for the North Korean people’s position and sentiment, so we named the organization RFC; not "Radio Free North Korea", but "Radio Free Chosun"". Chosun is how North Koreans refer to their own country.

Below is extracts of a transcript of the interview with Lee Kwang Baik:

- There are four civilian radio broadcasters for North Korea and also two foreign radio broadcasts like RFA and VOA targeting North Korea. What is the difference between you and them?

There are three different points. First, RFC has a distinct purpose: "North Korea should develop its economy through democratization and reform and opening", and we are striving to help North Korean people achieve it. Second, RFC is a broadcaster in which everyone, wherever they come from, can join our activities. Presently, North Koreans, South Koreans and Chinese cooperate on our goals. Third, RFC transfers overseas information by way of drama, so that North Korean people can understand easily and get it vividly.

- What are RFC’s representative programs?

We have "Episodes and Truth" that lets North Korean people perceive the truth of current issues, and a drama "Virtual Court of Kim Jong Il", that shows how extreme a dictatorship North Korea has, how terribly people suffer under the Kim Jong Il regime, and other hidden stories of the dictator. Additionally, we have also comments and statements in order to suggestbetter directions for North Korea’s future.

- How many North Korean people do you think listen to RFC? How far away can North Korean people listen to it? Are you monitoring the broadcasting situation?

According to the results of InterMedia’s examination in 2008, the rate of those who had listened to RFC was around five percent, but we presume around one or two percent of people are listening to it. However, I think even this rate is significant. The first aim of RFC is to raise the listener rate to two or three percent in a few years. It is short wave radio broadcasting, so everywhere on earth people can listen to it. As long as jamming by the North Korean regime does not exist, it can be heard all over the country.

- You must want a lot from the South Korean government.

The government needs to support radio broadcasting with medium-wave frequencies, which are more stable than short wave ones, in order to lead North Korea to change itself, and it has to do so strategically, because of course the North Korean issue is a highly significant issue for the future of the Korean Peninsula. The state-owned Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) airs programs for the North Korean people at medium-wave, but it has to focus not only on transferring information but on having an interest in changing North Korean society. (The Daily North Korea Post via Sælaen in DXplorer)(DSWCI-DX Window 377)

6125 kHz, Uruguay's sole active SW BC station SODRE, has now gone inactive again. The carrier was low modulated resulting in unusable readability as monitored since ends of last year. The station announcement noted that it was retired for repair, was made SODRE's Radioactividades program on Saturday May 23. SODRE authorities will keep at least this SW active. (Nigro in DXplorer/DSWCI-DX Window 377)

"Da paka army na ganda army da, da kafiran di dwee na sirf sar na di prekawol pakar balkai da dwee tukri tukri kol pakar di," (They are not the Pakistani Army, they are infidels, not only behead them but also chop their bodies up into little pieces), this is what Zuleikha, 52, heard on Fazlullah FM, after the military operation was launched in Swat; it was Maulana Shah Duran, a close-aide of Maulana Fazlullah, who delivered the speech.

"They call the police and army infidels and have given permission to everyone to kill them," says Zuleikha, who hails from the Khwazakhela Town of the Swat Valley. She migrated to Karachi a few days ago, as the law and order situation in the valley deteriorates. She is currently living with her daughter, who has been living in Qasbah Colony, Karachi for the last ten years.

uleikha reveals that Maulana Shah Duran, who was one of the three speakers on Fazlullah FM, would use abusive language when talking about government officials. The FM radio would broadcast programmes from 8:00 to 10:00 pm and rebroadcast them from seven to nine in the morning. The programme schedule was divided into three segments; the recitation of Holy Quran verses and their inferences, threats to opponents and a programme titled "Good News".

Many violent incidents started after Maulana Fazlullah established a FM radio station in Swat; he first used the station for the purpose of reciting and preaching Quranic verses, but later on, he and his accomplices used it to spread propaganda. This radio station was very popular among women, who traditionally stay at home in the Malakand division. On it, they could learn the Quran and the principles of Islam. "When I heard it for the first time, I found it very informative," the elderly woman, playing with her granddaughter´s locks said. The station would teach us Islamic rituals and other things, she added, however, she laments that later on, Maluana Fazlullah and Shah Durran started using abusive languages on the station. "Women would follow all the instructions he gave in the beginning and listened very carefully to the radio, however, it lost its attraction for them as soon as Durran started dictating what to do and what not to do," Zuleikha went on to say. "Even after the peace agreement was signed they continued dictating people."

Though the women lost interest in the Fazlullah FM and would only listen to the recitation and explanation of versus of the Holy Quran, the children had their own reasons to listen to the station. "I loved the way he used to talk about the policemen," said Alamzaib, 9, who is presently living in Banaras at his uncle´s home. "Maulana Shah Alam would call them chickens," he narrates the story with fun. "I would listen to the second part of their programme, which was usually hosted by one of the accomplices of Maulana Fazlullah." With a smile on his face, the child revealed that Taliban would issue instructions and would name the policemen who would be killed the next day. However, he adds that he abhors the Taliban, as one of their accomplices had slapped him while he was playing "gulli danda" with his friend. "Learn how to play with guns," the Taliban man advised him. He maintained that Shah Duran also did not like games and called them, "a waste of time".

Zainab, 24, has her own story of the Taliban and their radio to tell. "I listened to it because it was so funny; Shah Duran who has been the leading presenter on FM, in the recent days, would use abusive funny language." However, Zainab says Maulana Fazlullah does not appear on the radio anymore. The men of Swat were not interested in the religious sermons and would listen to the radio in the days of war to learn the new directives of Taliban, as going against them would cost them their lives. "They would abuse clean-shaven people in public and called them transgenders," said Jamal Khan, who hails from Kabal Town and has migrated to Karachi in the wake of the ongoing military operation. (Fawad Ali Shah, Karachi at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\05\18\story_18-5-2009_pg12_7 , via Liangas/DSWCI-DX Window 377)(photo: flickr/Agadir Taghazout)

From the latest DX Window, comes word that Radio NacionalAngola has reactivated their use of 4950 kHz, as indicated from the following log.GVH

Angola4949.76, Radio Nacional de Angola, Mulenvos, 1845-1950 UTC, May 23, Portuguese announcement to Afropop, 1900 time signal. News, reports and talk, not heard since Dec 2008! SINPO 35232, at times improving to 35333. Also tentatively heard at 2208-0045, May 16 and 22/23, football commentaries, talks and native songs by choir, SINPO 24333 heterodyne maybe from Radio Kashmir. (Méndez and Petersen)(DSWCI-DX Window 377)

James Miles has a unique insight into the way China works based on over 20 years' experience as a correspondent there.

He was the BBC's China correspondent in 1989 when he was eye-witness to the events leading up to the Tiananmen Square protests Miles describes what it was like to witness such a moment in history and why the crackdown was so brutal.

He considers how the Tiananmen Square massacre shaped the China we see now.

But most of all, how important the protests were for China. Were they an aberration which has been crushed forever? Or could those cries for democracy re-emerge as China grapples with the effects of the global economic crisis.

Vatican Radio is set to start airing commercials for the first time since it began broadcasting almost 80 years ago, officials said today. The station will run a series of “spots” advertising the services of Italian state-controlled energy provider, Enel, beginning on 6 July, the station’s director Father Federico Lombardi said.“We are proud to have been chosen as the first advertiser on one of the world’s most widely broadcast radio stations,” Enel’s chairman Piero Gnudi, said speaking at Vatican newsconference.Established in 1931, Vatican Radio currently broadcasts in some 47 languages, also through its website at http://www.vaticanradio.org/ .Enel produces and sells electricity mostly in Europe, North and Latin America and it also a major distributor and vendor of natural gas in Italy.(Source: Earth Times/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Australia9475 0902. Radio Australia (Shepparton).Studio interview via telephone, // 9580 kHz, in 9580 kHz at 0928. Strong interference from Radio Globo in São Paulo, with religious program of IPDA (which is much more to 9583 kHz, than in 9585). SINPO 25332. (Jorge Frietas/HCDX)

Bulgaria7400, Radio Bulgaria, 2132-2145. Noted a program of news and commentary in English. Many mentions of Bulgaria. Signal was fair.(Chuck Bolland, FL).

Ethiopia5980, Voice of Tigray Rev, 0300-0315. Tune-in to Horn of Africa music. Signal Weak in noisy conditions. Fair to good level on // 5950 - but mixing with a strong Radio Taiwan International via Okeechobee, FLorida. Nothing heard on 6170. (Brian Alexander, PA)

9561.11v, Voice of Peace & Democracy via Radio Ethiopia transmitter, 0359-0430.* Tune-in to opening ID announcements at 0359 & into talk in listed Tigrinya. Short breaks of local Horn of Africa music. In the clear with a good signal but constantly drifting. Signal drifted as high as 9562.24 by 0427. // 7165-weak signal and covered by noise jammer at 0400. Jammer probably after VOBME which sometimes uses this frequency. Voice of Peace and Democracy on the air Mon, Wed, Fri only. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Madagascar7395, Radio Sweden relay, 2120-2130. Tuned in to three males in conversation in Swedish language. At 2128 music cuts into the conversation. Following this an ID in English. The announcement promises a half hour program in English which starts at 2131 with the news. Signal was good. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

BBC Worldwide and YouTube have announced the renewal of their global partnership for BBC Worldwide YouTube channels and short-form videos. The extension ensures that the BBC’s most watched programming will remain available to YouTube’s massive online audience.

In addition, BBC Worldwide has launched its new YouTube channel Explore with BBC Worldwidehttp://www.youtube.com/user/ BBCExplore with clips making their YouTube premiere from renowned BBC factual shows including ‘Amazon with Bruce Parry’ and the Louis Theroux series such as ‘Gambling in Las Vegas’. Other new clips include ‘The Race for Everest’ and ‘Extreme Dinosaurs’. The channel joins recently launched Food from BBC Worldwide http://www.youtube.com/bbcfood with clips from classic cookery programs.

In the coming weeks, BBC Worldwide will unveil dedicated channels for comedy and natural history clips and a US only channel(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Saturday, May 23, 2009

This weekend is America's Memorial Day Weekend. This is a time we gather to remember the brave American soldiers, sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsman who have sacrificed their lives for the United States. We thank those that have served and honor those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We commerate their service, and thank these brave men and women.Gayle and Larry Van HornTeak Publishing

The Radio Caroline website carries the following announcement: “We are pleased to announce that our programs for the Spring Holiday weekend (Whitsun) will once again be coming from the radio-ship Ross Revenge. Join us from 18:00 [1700 UTC] on Friday 22nd May until 18:00 [1700 UTC] on Monday 25th for another highly atmospheric broadcast from the ship that was our full-time home between 1983 and 1990. You can hear our regular team who all admit to enjoying broadcasts from Ross Revenge because of the special atmosphere felt by anyone entering the on-board studios.

Although our radio-ship is still ’stuck’ in a private berth at the Port of Tilbury in Essex we do hope her days of isolation will be ending very soon. Watch this space!”

Argentina's Radio Balurte logged6214.47, Radio Baluarte, Puerto Iguazu, 1035-1043. "Portuñol"(Portuguese/Spanish mix). Religious program to talk. SINPO 24432.Station has not been reported heard since September 2008!(Arnaldo Slaen/DSWCW-DX Window 376)

Brazil's Radio Guarujá Paulista log and info5045, Radio Guarujá Paulista, Guarujá, SP, 1001-1025. Portuguese relaying news program Jornal da Manhã of Radio Jovem Pan 620 MW of São Paulo, Spanish as Jovem Pan Sat" with some canned ID "Guarujá Paulista" on relaying. Bad audio when relaying but good when originated from their studio (checked later at 1045 when relaying was over). From 1024 splatter of 5035 Radio Aparecida, SINPO 43444. (Otávio). Also heard at 2026-2030, May 08, reactivated! (Azevedo). Tentatively heard on 5044.95 at 0230-0240, May 09, Portuguese talk, SINPO 15131. A very weak carrier was also heard at 0050 on May 10, but no audio. (Anker Petersen)

This station has been inactive again, but returned now to the air which is great news for lovers of the world of the tropical wave, because it is an excellent provider of QSLs. I know personally the owner (Mr. Orivaldo Rampazzo) who is a radio enthusiast. He had told me, that it was temporarily off the air. They had plans to return to the tropical waves ... and that actually occurred. I talked with Orivaldo Rampazzo, last night, May 08, by phone, and he gave me information on the return of the transmission on tropical waves. Transmission of 24 hours daily. Correct name: ZYG 850 Rádio Guarujá Paulista on 5045 kHz. They have no further connection with the network Globo Radio. Location of Transmitter: Guarujá, São Paulo, Latitude: -23 ° 59' 35 " Longitude -46° 15' 23". Power: 1 kW. Radio Guarujá Paulista also transmits on 1550 MW, but with a programming different from 5045. (Azevedo/DSWCI-DX Window 376)

Clandestine QSLingSound of Hope Radio Network verified with a full data Earphones/Microphone” card personal letter in 72 days from postal address P. O. Box 70456, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 from v/s Demi Yan, Listener Service Coordinator who apologized for the delay in replying. The letter indicated that the "Sound of Hope Radio Network is a non-profit station that produces comprehensive news and commentaries on or related to China and we broadcast to China through shortwave. We are the largest non-governmental shortwave broadcaster to China. Our mission is to provide mainland Chinese people with free, independent and objective information, which is most of the time unavailable due to the total monopoly of information by Chinese government. Due to the Communist government’s monopoly of the power and media, state-sponsored human rights violations go undeterred and many, many people suffered as a result.

Outstanding examples are underground churches and Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans and many deprived people are being persecuted in very brutal and covered-up way. Our radio station strives to bring the exposure to such crimes in an effort to deter it and hope to the people in much need." (Rich D’Angelo/DSWCI-DX Window 376)

Ethiopian monitoring6090, Amhara Regional State Radio, Addis Ababa, *0300. Ppening music, ID, web URL, good. (Bernardini). Also heard at 1815. Signal noted as best ever, since I started listening to this frequency on Apr 29. (Van Arnhem). An email reply from Amhara Regional State Radio, Bahirdar, Ethiopia: "heloo bjorn fransson.i am dereje moges radio director from amhara radio,bahirdar, Ethiopia.thank you for your feedback!He also wrote: "Dear our radio station is establish 12 years ago, for the first time it transmit for one hour a day. but now the transmittion time is nine hours a day. Our agency also have news paper and TV transmittion. the TV transmittion is by using etv transmiter one hour a day". His name is Dereje Moges.E-mail address: dereradio2000@yahoo.com. (Fransson/DSWCI-DX Window 376)

'Hot' transmitters keep AFN radio Naples off-airNAPLES, Italy — American Forces Network radio in Naples remains out of commission while the U.S. Consulate and AFN officials lobby for Italian approval to use new transmitters.

The transmitters are atop Collina dei Camaldoli, Naples’ highest point, where numerous other radio, television and cell phone towers also are located.

The site is "hot [with electromagnetic field emissions], and there have been many complaints from residents in the area," according to Giuseppe D’Antonio, with Agenzia Regionale Protezione Ambientale Campania, the regional equivalent of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Obversations on China monitoringWhen checking the bands at 0020-0105, May 03, I experienced something strange: All the usually heard Chinese domestic transmitters were off! They were Beijing 4460, 5030, 11710, Ge'ermu 4800 (AIR Hyderabad was heard instead with 45434!), Shijiazhuang 7215, and Lhasa, Tibet on 4820, 4905, 4920, 5935, 6050, 7170 and 7240 ! Most of these were heard by me 24 hours earlier. But Urumqi, Xinjiang, were still on the air - and some even on the usual winterfrequencies: 3990, 4330, 4980, 6120, 5060 and 5960. What is happening ? (Petersen). At 0005-0110, May 10 and 13, Xinjiang was heard on 4330, 4500, 4980, 5060, 6120 and 7195, but Beijing-based stations and Lhasa again were off the air on 4460, 4800, 4820, 4905, 4920 and 5030 ! All were noted back on the air when checked at 1640 on May 03 and at 1715 on May 10. Is this a new morning schedule ? (Anker Petersen/DSWCI-DX Window 376)

7350, CNR-11 (Tibetan service), 1430-1500. Holy Tibet program, "China National Radio. China National Radio, welcome to our English program from Tibet." "Hello friends, now you are listening to the English program Holy Tibet." Program about agriculture, animal husbandry, Tibetan farmers, Tibetan music noted on // 6010. Both poor to fair. May 03 Repeat of last Sundays "Holy Tibet" program of Tibetan music and explanations about Tibetan Buddhist symbols. (Howard/DSWCI-DX Window 376)

Pirate, Yellow Rhino Radio QSLs6925USB. Full data logo eQSL in a few hours for e-mail and MP3 file (Andrew Yoder,PA/Cumbre DX)

Radio Monaco NewsSince May 04, news bulletins produced by Radio Monaco are broadcast on short wave by Monaco Radio (Naya). The frequencies are: 4363, 8728, 13146, 17260 kHz USB. It is a live relay at 0700 and 1100 for around three minutes. Radio Monaco is a local station from Monaco on FM 95.4 MHz for all Côte d’Azur, 98.2 MHz for Monaco and 103.2 MHz for Grasse area (France) where 95.4 MHz is not received. Location: Gildo Pastor Center, 7 rue du Gabian, MC- 98000, Monaco.